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Wind, rain and power outages predicted

Register-Herald (Beckley, WV)

Sept. 12--lewisburg -- As a large swath of the East Coast braces for Hurricane Florence, county commissioners received a public update from Homeland Security and Emergency Management deputy director Paula Brown on the storm's possible impact on Greenbrier County.

Brown said her agency and other emergency responders are preparing for the worst case scenario, while hoping for the best.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting a "significant rainfall event" in the Greenbrier Valley region, she said, but noted that rainfall totals as high as 30 inches that are being bandied about on social media represent grand totals that could occur over the next week, not a single deluge.

Some, but not all, of the models used by NWS to predict Florence's path indicate local flood events are probable.

"We're going to have some wind. We're going to have some rain. We're going to have some power outages," Brown said.

Wind will be a factor only in front of the weather event -- Friday through the weekend -- with heavier rain following, she said.

Brown cautioned that, if power outages do occur, they may last longer than usual, because utility crews are expected to be occupied with response to the anticipated coastal disaster.

In preparation for possible electrical interruptions, she urged people to gas up their vehicles and draw some cash out of their bank accounts.

"Get your evacuation plan in order," she said, adding that people with pets should include providing for their animals in that plan.

She said property owners should take photos of the interior and exterior of their homes and other buildings, in case an insurance claim for storm damage needs to be filed later.

In order to keep on top of the latest information on weather, road closures, missing people and other key emergency data, Brown encouraged Greenbrier County residents who have not done so to sign up for emergency alerts, which are delivered via email, voice or text message.

Greenbrier County's subscribers so far number only around 3,000, Brown said, with 800 of those signing up in the past week.

To sign up for this free service, Greenbrier residents may visit Homeland Security and Emergency Management's Facebook page or website at greenbriercountyhsem.org.

Commission President Woody Hanna added his voice to Brown's in urging residents to sign up for the WENS alert system.

"It is free," Hanna said. "Be prepared."

He said anyone who is having trouble registering for the emergency alerts should call the county commission's office in the courthouse, 304-647-6689, ext. 0, for assistance.

The area has already suffered one economic blow due to the impending storm, Brown noted.

Owners of private planes scheduled to hold a convention at The Greenbrier resort this week canceled plans to bring a reported 185 aircraft into Greenbrier Valley Airport on Tuesday. The planes were to have been parked side-by-side along the tarmac, only 23 feet apart, Brown said.